Chinese weapons on front? Expert explains why it will be difficult to gather evidence
Illustrative photo: expert explained why it is difficult to gather evidence of Chinese weapons supplies to Russia (Getty Images)
Currently, there is no publicly available evidence that China is supplying weapons to Russia, military expert Pavlo Narozhnyi stated in a comment to the YouTube channel of RBC-Ukraine.
According to him, obtaining such evidence will be very difficult. He expressed hope that the Security Service of Ukraine would provide the necessary proof.
"So far, there is no evidence, but it will be very difficult to obtain. This concerns artillery, as most Chinese artillery models are copies of Soviet ones," Narozhnyi explained.
The expert noted that if you place a Chinese and a Soviet cannon side by side and take photos from a distance of 50 meters, even a specialist would not be able to accurately determine which one is Chinese and which is Soviet.
"In this case, you either need to obtain some high-quality photographs or capture a unit on the battlefield — then it would serve as evidence," he added.
Regarding shells, the expert explained that gathering evidence would also be difficult but possible.
"Very often, the Russians themselves take photos of the shells, post them online, showing 'what we are firing with,' write some reviews, and so on. And in terms of quantity, we're talking about 1–2% of shells that may fail to detonate on the battlefield. That is, it can land, remain in the ground, and be found — this could serve as evidence of the presence of Chinese-made shells," he said.
The expert concluded that although no evidence has been published so far, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has promised to hold a press conference at which he will provide new information.
"So far, we only have information about the supply of Chinese engines for Shaheds and vehicles for the Russian army, but this is civilian equipment, not weapons," he added.
Supply of Chinese weapons to Russia
Recently, President Zelenskyy stated that China is helping Russia with weapons. In particular, there is information about the supply of gunpowder and artillery. According to him, Chinese representatives are involved in weapons production on Russian territory.
At the same time, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian called Zelenskyy's claims "groundless."
It is also worth noting that the Armed Forces of Ukraine captured two Chinese citizens who were fighting for the Russian Federation. They claimed not to have signed a contract with the Russian Armed Forces, but said they did not want to go to the front.
